This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Chapter 7: Speedy Gonzalez: Layer Tips

I know I'm supposed to write something compelling to make you want to
read this chapter, but honestly, they're layer tips. Not that they're
unimportantthey totally are. But when you say it"layer tips"it
just doesn't have enough oomph! This chapter name needs more oomph! By
the way, as an aside, if you look up the word "oomph" in the 2001
Webster's Abridged Dictionary, Oxford Version, for the actual definition,
it's "A bulkiness or powerful quality that is brought on by most chapter
heads, with the notable exception of 'Layer Tips'." Hey, I'm
not making this stuff up. Those Webster guys are serious (especially the one
who had his own show and was friends with Michael Jackson).

MISSING YOUR BACKGROUND LAYER? HERE'S THE FIX

If you're opening new documents and they don't have a Background
layer, there's a reason (of course there's a reason, everything has
a reason; we just happen to know what it is). The reason is that you've
selected the Transparent option in the New document dialog box. That seems like
a reasonable thing to do; everybody wants transparency, right? However, what
it tells Photoshop is "don't worry about creating a Background layer."
To get Background layers again, the next time you're in the New dialog
box, under Contents, make sure you choose White, and from then on, you'll
have Background layers in your documents.